United Nations, Sept 28: India sharply criticized Pakistan on Sunday for responding to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s remarks on terrorism at the UN General Assembly (UNGA), despite not being named, terming Islamabad’s reaction an admission of its “longstanding practice of cross-border terrorism.”
During his UNGA address on Saturday, Jaishankar underscored that “major international terrorist attacks are traced back to that one country,” and referred to a neighbour as the “epicentre of global terrorism.” He stressed that India has faced the challenge of terrorism since its independence.
Although Pakistan was not named, its delegate exercised the Right of Reply, accusing India of attempting to “malign Pakistan” with “malicious accusations.” The delegate described India’s statements as a “deliberate attempt to repeat lies.”
Responding, Rentala Srinivas, Second Secretary in India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, said: “It is telling that a neighbour who was not named chose to nevertheless respond and admit their longstanding practice of cross-border terrorism.” He added, “Pakistan’s reputation speaks for itself. Its fingerprints are so visible in terrorism across so many geographies. It is a menace not only to its neighbours but to the entire world.”
Srinivas went further, saying, “No arguments or untruths can ever whitewash the crimes of terroristan.” As the Pakistani delegate rose again to reply, Srinivas walked out of the hall.
Earlier, Jaishankar had urged the global community to unequivocally condemn states that treat terrorism as policy, host terror hubs on an industrial scale, and glorify terrorists publicly. He pressed for choking terror financing, sanctioning key operatives, and maintaining “relentless pressure on the entire terrorism ecosystem,” warning that condoning sponsors would eventually backfire.
Highlighting the killing of tourists in Pahalgam in April as an example of “cross-border barbarism,” Jaishankar said India exercised its right to defend its citizens and ensured that perpetrators were brought to justice. Without naming Pakistan, he stressed that “the UN’s designated lists of terrorists are replete with its nationals.” (Agencies)
